Mark 10:18 Why do you call me good?...

KJV Verse:

Greek Verse:

Literal Alternative:

Why boast of me, valuable? No one " valuable" if not one, the Divine

Hidden Meaning:

While there is a little play on words in the question Christ is asked, "Good treacher can you tell me what good I can do to have eternal life." Christ rejects this concept of "good" when applied to himself and directs that it should only be applied only to God. The version in Matthew, Matthew 19:17, is more detailed but doesn't mention the Divine as "good". The version in Mark (Mark 10:18) are identical. The rest of the story in all three Gospels is detailed and very similar, so we can assume that this question was answered only once. What is more likely: that the answer in Matthews, which is more detailed and ambiguous, was built up or that Mark or Luke versions were stripped down to a simpler and more straightforward version?

The word translated as "callest" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to boast of," which fits its use here.

The Greek word translated as "no one" also means "nothing" and other negatives nouns.

There is no verb "is" here. However, since the "no one" and "good" are the same form, they are equated without the verb.

Two Greek words are translated as "except". Literally, they mean "if not" but this phrase is used to mean "except", "instead", and "but."

The "one" is the number, which can also be used like a pronoun.

The word translated as "God" means "God" and "diety." It is introduced with an article, so "the God." Christ often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods. The only difference between this version and Luke's is that Luke lacks the article.

Vocabulary:

ΤίΤί (irreg sg neut nom) "Why" is from tis which in a question, it can mean "who", "why," or "what."

ἀγαθὸς (adj sg masc nom) "Good" is from agathos which means "good" and, when applied to people, "well-born", "gentle", "brave," and "capable." When applied to things, it means "serviceable", "morally good," and "beneficial."

εἰμὴ (conj particle)"Except" is ei me, which is the conjunction that means "if not", "but," and "except." εἰ is the particle use with the imperative usually to express conditions "if" or indirect questions, "whether." mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no."

εἷς (noun sg masc nom) "One" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single," and "one and the same." As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

[ὁ]θεός.(noun sg masc nom) "God" is theos, which means "God," the Deity." -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "diety." It is introduced with an article, so "the God." Christ often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.